Stolen BMW Crashes Into Care Home During High-Speed Pursuit
A driver and his passenger have been sent to prison after a stolen BMW they were driving crashed into a care home in Sunderland during a police chase reaching speeds of 100mph, resulting in the deaths of two elderly residents.
The incident occurred in July when Sam Asgari-Tabar, 21, was behind the wheel of the car with Reece Parish as his passenger. The court heard that the pair had initially taken the BMW for a test drive after seeing it advertised for sale on Facebook, but then drove off with the woman who was selling the vehicle on behalf of a relative still inside.
Chaotic Chase and Devastating Collision
After the terrified woman was eventually removed from the vehicle, the two men sped off again. Police were alerted to the stolen car in the Fenham area of Newcastle and spotted it in Sunderland just 15 minutes later.
A dramatic pursuit ensued, with video evidence played in court showing police officers reaching speeds of 100mph on residential streets in an attempt to keep up with the fleeing vehicle.
The chase ended catastrophically when Asgari-Tabar lost control and the BMW ploughed into the exterior wall of Highcliffe Care Home. The impact was so severe that it caused part of the ceiling to collapse.
Care Home Residents Suffer Tragic Consequences
The collision had devastating consequences for the vulnerable residents inside. Eight people were taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries. Shockingly, just two days later, two women who had not been among those initially hospitalised had died - one was in her 90s and the other in her 80s.
Among the injured was a 94-year-old woman with dementia who was in an upstairs lounge when the floor collapsed on top of her. The court heard that many residents with dementia were unable to fully comprehend what had happened to them, experiencing only the fear and shock of the traumatic event.
Sentencing and Judge's Comments
At Newcastle Crown Court, Sam Asgari-Tabar was jailed for five years and two months after pleading guilty to stealing the BMW, robbery, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to an elderly care home resident who suffered spinal fractures.
Reece Parish received a 19-month sentence for his role in stealing the car, with an additional 18 months for violent disorder during last summer's riots in Sunderland, to be served concurrently.
Judge Stephen Earl described the case as one of the worst examples of dangerous driving he had encountered in his career, stating he was amazed there wasn't more damage or injury given the circumstances of the crash.
